Zhang Guihua arrived at the Second Branch’s room when all the girls were already on the kang, getting ready to sleep. It was Zhao Xiaojuan who got off the kang to open the door, "Mom, is there something you need?"
"I came to see Yuanbin, is Yuanbin asleep yet?" Zhang Guihua asked.
"Not yet, he slept a bit too long at noon and is still quite energetic now," Zhao Xiaojuan replied.
"Granny." The young girls saw the old lady come in and hurriedly called out.
Zhang Guihua responded with an indifferent ’hm’.
But when she saw Jiang Yuanbin lying on the kang, looking up at her, her face instantly revealed a loving smile, "Aiyoh, Yuanbin, Granny’s big grandson, do you miss Granny?"
Zhang Guihua held Jiang Yuanbin dearly for a while before she took a big red envelope out of her pocket and let him hold it.
"Changhe, Changhe’s wife, this is a red envelope for Yuanbin from me. Keep it for him, and buy the child some stuff after the New Year," Zhang Guihua told Jiang Changhe and his spouse.
"Alright, I got it, Mom."
Jiang Changhe hadn’t expected that his mother would give Yuanbin an extra red envelope. He was thrilled. It seemed that having a son was truly important for securing one’s status, both in the village and in his parents’ hearts.
Da Ya, Er Ya, and Laidi saw the old lady give their brother an extra red envelope but felt no jealousy, instead, they were happy for their brother.
Zhaodi lay on the kang, sneering to herself. She had always said that having a brother would give them someone to lean on. Look now, her brother couldn’t even talk yet, but he already held the same status in the old couple’s hearts as Zhiwen and Zhiwu.
After leaving the Second Branch’s room, Zhang Guihua went to the First Branch’s room.
Su Wanyu was spreading out the bedding on the kang, and Jiang Changhai was sitting on the ground soaking his feet. When they heard the knock at the door, it was Jiang Mianmian who ran to open it.
"Granny, why have you come?" Jiang Mianmian asked in surprise to see her granny coming over so late.
"Mom, what is it, is there something wrong?" Jiang Changhai also asked curiously upon seeing his mother.
Su Wanyu also stopped what she was doing, waiting for the old lady to speak.
"Shh, keep your voice down. I came to give our Mianmian a big red envelope. Here, Mianmian, take it. This is specially prepared by Granny. Buy whatever you like to eat," Zhang Guihua said, looking at Jiang Mianmian with eyes full of love.
Jiang Mianmian held the somewhat thick red envelope in her hand, a bit startled.
She still remembered that last year, Zhaodi had come to tell her about the old lady secretly giving red envelopes to the boys. She hadn’t expected this year she would receive the same treatment as the boys.
Jiang Mianmian thought that she was being treated the same as the boys, but she was wrong. The red envelope the old lady gave her was even larger than those given to the three boys in the house.
"Thank you, Granny." Jiang Mianmian held the red envelope and thanked her with a smile in her eyes.
"No need to thank me, alright, you all should rest early," Zhang Guihua said before she went out the door.
When Jiang Mianmian went out to close the door, she saw her granny sneakily heading towards the Third Branch’s room.
Zhiwen and Zhiwu were so happy to see so much money in the red envelopes that they were hopping and jumping on the ground.
Even Sun Lixia hadn’t expected the old lady to be so generous this year, giving each of her two sons a whole dollar. She soothed her sons and took away the New Year’s money, then gave each of them a penny and sent them off.
In the meanwhile, at the First Branch’s room, Jiang Changhai was making faces at his daughter, "Girl, take a look. How much money did Granny give you in the red envelope?"
Jiang Changhai didn’t care about the money; he was just curious,
Eager to see how much New Year’s money his mother, who treasured money like life itself and was incredibly stingy, would give his daughter.